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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter M to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER M. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS |
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Sec. 16.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Flood-prone area" means: |
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(A) an area of this state included in the |
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governor's disaster declaration of July 22, 2025, issued for the |
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July 2025 floods; or |
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(B) any other areas of the state as identified by |
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Senate Bill No. 3, 89th Legislature, First Called Session, 2025. |
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(2) "Outdoor warning siren" means a system that |
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produces a sound designed to alert a person who is outdoors of an |
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imminent disaster and encourage that person to immediately seek |
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shelter or move to higher ground. |
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Sec. 16.502. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS REQUIRED IN FLOOD-PRONE |
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AREAS. (a) The board shall identify each area of this state that: |
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(1) has a history of consistent or severe flooding; |
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and |
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(2) based on the history under Subdivision (1) and any |
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other factor the board considers relevant, warrants the |
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installation, maintenance, and operation of one or more outdoor |
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warning sirens. |
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(b) Other relevant factors the board may consider in making |
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determinations under Subsection (a)(2) include, as to each area: |
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(1) loss of human life to flooding; |
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(2) the existence of residences or other dwelling |
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structures in the flood-prone area; and |
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(3) the potential damage to real or personal property |
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resulting from a flood. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), for each |
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flood-prone area, the board shall require the appropriate |
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municipality or county to install, maintain, and operate one or |
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more outdoor warning sirens in accordance with the rules adopted by |
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the board under this section. If the site of the installation is: |
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(1) in the boundaries of a municipality, the |
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municipality shall install, maintain, and operate the siren; or |
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(2) in the unincorporated area of a county, the county |
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shall install, maintain, and operate the siren. |
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(d) The board may not require an outdoor warning siren for |
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an area in which a governmental entity already maintains and |
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operates an outdoor warning siren that meets the minimum standards |
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adopted by board rule. |
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(e) Municipalities, counties, and other governmental |
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entities by written agreement may jointly install, maintain, or |
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operate an outdoor warning siren in a flood-prone area. |
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(f) The board shall require each county or municipality with |
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an outdoor warning siren required under this section or any other |
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governmental entity with an outdoor warning siren in a flood-prone |
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area to regularly test the functionality of the outdoor warning |
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siren and document the results of those tests. |
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(g) The board's determinations under this section on |
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whether an area is a flood-prone area or requires an outdoor warning |
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siren are final and binding. |
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(h) The board shall adopt rules and procedures to implement |
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this section, including: |
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(1) procedures for the operation of an outdoor warning |
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siren in a flood-prone area of this state; |
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(2) minimum standards for an outdoor warning siren |
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installed, maintained, or operated in a flood-prone area; and |
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(3) minimum standards for a backup operating system |
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capable of powering an outdoor warning siren in a flood-prone area |
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that is different from the primary operating system. |
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(i) The board may consult with other entities when adopting |
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rules and procedures to implement this section. |
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Sec. 16.503. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REQUIRED OUTDOOR WARNING |
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SIRENS. (a) Using any money available for that purpose, the board |
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shall establish and administer a grant program to assist |
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municipalities, counties, and other governmental entities with |
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covering the costs of installing outdoor warning sirens required |
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under Section 16.502. |
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(b) The board shall establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of a grant. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |